Pastel Politics

Gracie and Everest stepped back to admire their handiwork: the balloon arch that stretched across their small backyard, a perfect swirl of pink and blue. They spent hours blowing balloons up and tying them to the arch. The task was tedious, but was worth it, knowing shortly their family would be arriving to find out the gender of the newest Hyde baby.

Gracie couldn't stop fidgeting. She paced the backyard adjusting the decorations they had set up the night before. She stroked the little buckets of pink and blue glasses and chuckled. That had been Everest's idea, and while she'd never say it, she thought it was kind of tacky.

Everest was occupied lighting up the grill on the opposite side of the backyard. The smell of the charcoal mingled with the sweet scent of the freshly bloomed flowers, a reminder that this was supposed to be a celebration, not a moment of panic. As if he could sense Gracie's panic, he turned to face her and chuckled.

"Sweet heart, it's just a little reveal." He said soothingly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Everything looks perfect, and I'm sure your family will think so too." He pulled Gracie into a hug. Gracie smiled. Her husband always knew how to make her feel better. He was right. This wasn't some fancy party to impress people, this was a special moment to be shared with her family and loved ones.

The first knock on their door pulled Gracie out of her head. The guests were beginning to arrive, and in just a short time, she would finally know if she was having a boy or a girl. Everest quickly made his way in to greet everyone.

Despite spring having only just begun, Evergreen Harbor sweltered beneath an unexpected heatwave. The air was thick and shimmering, as though summer had arrived months too soon.

The family gathered in the backyard, using whatever they could to fan themselves from the heat. Gracie and Everest’s backyard had mostly been shaded, and yet the heat was almost unbearable. They’d have to do this quickly, as Gracie wouldn’t be able to withstand the heat long.

A rain shower of confetti suddenly appeared, fluttering down in bright, weightless spirals that clung to hair, shoulders, and laughter alike. The cleanup later would be awful, but it warmed Gracie’s heart to see her family excited.

“Thank you all for coming. It means so much to us, that we have so many people who love and support us.” Everest said sincerely.

“We love you all so very much.” Gracie added. “Who’s ready to find out what the gender is?”

Whoops and hollers erupted from the family in the backyard, loud and unrestrained, reverberating off of the house and spilling into the warm afternoon air. Everest gently grabbed Gracie’s hand and led her to the giant balloon tethered to the ground.

The balloon read Boy or Girl.

Gracie stared up at balloon that held the answer to the question everyone has been asking. They were just moments away from the reveal.

“Five!” Everest shouted and quickly everyone was shouting in unison. Every eye locked onto the balloon, the moment stretching thin as glass.

“Four! Three!”

Gracie’s heart began race quickly. This was it. It was about to happen.

“Two! One!” The shouting abruptly stopped as everyone held their breath in anticipation to see the results of the reveal. Gracie and Everest held their needles up to the balloon. In an unspoken synchronization, the parents-to-be reached for the balloon and popped it.

Another shower of confetti fell from the balloon. This time the confetti was all pink.

Pink! It’s another girl! Gracie thought to herself, as everyone screamed with excitement.

“I’m a GIRL DAD!” Everest cried. “Oh shit, I’m a girl dad.” Laughter roared from the family. Raising two girls meant they needed to be prepared for all of the drama and theatrics when they got older.

“Babeeee! Dahlia’s going to have a little sister!” Gracie cried. She held her hands to her heart. She never would have imagined raising two girls.

“Ooooh, you two are in for it now!” Everest’s brother Emmett called out, laughing. He leaned against the side of the house. “In all seriousness, congratulations. I can’t wait to meet my newest niece. I love you both.”

A chorus of awws rose up, warm and affectionate, followed by another round of applause that rippled through the backyard like a wave of shared joy.

“Thank you all again for coming and celebrating our newest little girl.” Everest said again. “We are so very blessed. So very grateful.”

Gracie nodded in agreement, still wrapped in Everest’s arms. “Our girls are very lucky to have all of you in their lives. Us too.”

“Of course, no good celebration goes without food. So I hope everyone came hungry. I grilled hamburgers, dogs, Gracie made a cake. There’s drinks in the coolers.” Everest pointed around the yard.

The family mingled over good food, paper plates balancing in their hands, as they talked about the newest Hyde baby. They took bets on if the baby would look like Gracie or Everest.

All the worry Gracie felt earlier that day slowly dissipated, dissolving into the hum of conversation and steady comfort of familiar faces gathered around her. Celebrating her and Everest. Celebrating their daughter who would soon be joining them.

Gracie and Everest had a lot of work to get done to prepare for their newest arrival. Looking around the backyard, Gracie smiled.

She knew there were plenty of people she could rely on for help. Their steady presence wrapped around her like a quiet promise, promising that she and Everest would never have to face anything alone.

To be continued……